Perth then Bali

On our way back to Papua we stayed two days in Perth, to connect with a church there that partners with us. We stayed with lovely friends Emily and James and their two kids Talia and Toby. Our kids didn't cope so well with yet another transition, and I was struggling with symptoms of an overactive thyroid and Autumn and I didn't really sleep. But! we loved getting to know our hosts a bit better, and meeting the wonderful group who pray for us, catching up with some old friends from college and fish & chips (the best--and most expensive--I've ever had) at the beach.

To get to Papua you have to stop at Jakarta or Bali, and Bali is the obvious choice. We extended our stay to 10 days, because we were so exhausted, and because Guin needed to see an endocrinologist to sort out her thyroid problem. So, in between blood tests, chasing the results and seeing doctors, we had a holiday of sleeping, TV, swimming, eating and reading.



The flight to Papua leaves in the middle of the night. The whole process with small children, no sleep and a ridiculous amount of luggage is a killer, but quickly forgotten.

Drive down to Melbourne



We drove to Melbourne over two days. It was a relaxing trip. Autumn, whom we sometimes call Jolie (on account of the lips), even slept. We got to know Justine Clarke's I like to Sing! very well.

We stopped for lunch at Holbrook, whose claim to fame is this submarine, 100s of kilometres from the sea.
Autumn makes a run for it..

..but then remembers we're the ones who feed her.

Delays

We were recently delayed at Bali ariport for about 6 hours, into the night. Reuben kept everyone entertained for as long as he could, but really wished someone would just put him to bed.

Hunting & Gathering

We stayed in a lovely little guesthouse in Malang while we looked for a house to rent. I loved the Javanese furniture!





Breakfast.

For lunch and dinner, we discovered lots of warungs around town.



Bercakap-cakap (chatting).

Here you can order a fresh juice: any combination of orange, watermelon, apple, papaya, rockmelon, pineapple.. Two guys, two blenders and a generator worked flat out all day.

Eat-in or take-away.

Off we go again

Sentani Airport.

Tired boy.



Transit at Makassar, South Sulawesi. Our turn to have a laugh at language mistakes.

Reuben making a run for it.

Trying to escape reality at Makassar airport. It worked; thanks for the books Mum!

Packing (again)

We stored most of the stuff from our Sentani house in the roof, to allow another family to make it their home while we're away. It was painful to pack up and move again, having just made the massive transtion from Australia.

Arriving

View of Lake Sentani from plane.



Sentani aiport, 10 minute drive from our house.



Arriving at our strange new home. Eeek! We look like early settlers or something! I remember feeling overwhelmed and more than a little queazy.

Getting here

Ready to go: Melbourne airport, November 2009.

Soren chilling out on the plane.

Breakfast at Bali resort. We stopped there for a few days on the way to Sentani. Mmmm, yum.

Reuben enjoying the beach.

The beach again.

Bali aiport, 1am, trying to sleep before 3am flight to Sentani. No success.